By MICHELLE LOVELL, Falls Creek Chamber of Commerce president
As the snow season begins in Victoria’s High Country, a small army of seasonal workers descends on Falls Creek - and they’re just as essential to the magic as the powder itself.
Every winter, Falls Creek transforms.
The alpine village swells from a quiet mountain community into a buzzing hub of skiers, snowboarders, and families chasing that perfect snow day.
But behind every hot chocolate served at the lodge, every lift that runs on time, and every friendly face pointing you toward the best runs, there’s a seasonal worker making it happen.
And honestly, they’re the unsung heroes of the season.
More than just a job
Seasonal staff at Falls Creek aren’t just filling positions - they’re creating the atmosphere that keeps visitors coming back year after year.
From the ski instructors who celebrate your kid’s first pizza and french-fries turns to the hospitality crew who remember your coffee order by day three, these are the people who turn a ski trip into a memory.
“You can have the best snow in the country, but if the service is cold, people notice,” says one longtime resort operator.
“Our seasonal team brings an energy that you just can’t manufacture.”
A melting pot on the mountain
One of Falls Creek’s secret ingredients is the sheer diversity of its workforce.
Walk through the village on any given day and you’ll hear a dozen accents - French, Taiwanese, South American, Irish, Canadian.
Backpackers from around the world bring their own hospitality traditions, language skills, and cultural perspectives that make international visitors feel instantly welcome.
Got a family from Germany who need directions?
There’s probably someone on shift who speaks German.
A nervous first-timer from China?
Chances are there’s a staff member who can put them at ease in their native language.
But it’s not just about translation.
Different backgrounds mean different approaches to service, to problem-solving, to connecting with people.
It makes the whole experience richer.
The balancing act: locals and travellers
There’s a reason Falls Creek works hard to attract both Australian seasonal workers and international backpackers - they need both.
Local and Australian workers often bring continuity.
They know the mountain’s quirks, understand the weather patterns, and sometimes return season after season.
Often they have grown up skiing here, and already feel at home.
They’re the institutional memory that keeps things running smoothly when a storm rolls in or something unexpected happens.
Backpackers, meanwhile, bring fresh energy, global perspectives, and a willingness to dive headfirst into everything the season offers.
They’re often working the jobs that locals can’t fill, and they do it with enthusiasm because for many of them, this is the adventure they came to Australia for.
Robyn Douglas, a hospitality pro from the UK, says that after doing a ski season in France, she knew she wanted to do a second season.
“When the opportunity came up to do so in Falls Creek, I was very excited,” she said.
“People back home in the UK are always surprised when I say I’m getting to do a ski season while travelling in Australia!”
Robyn’s employer is thrilled to have her onboard.
She was recommended by a previous employee who completed the season in Falls Creek with them last year.
Charlotte Bosward and Amy McGrath are both Aussie workers who have done seasons previously in Canada.
Both excited to see what their backyard has to offer, they agree that ski seasons are all about meeting great people.
Leaving the ‘real world’ behind for a little while opens doors to so many great opportunities.
Together, our home grown and working visa teams create a workforce that’s both reliable and dynamic - exactly what a ski resort needs.
When someone stays
Every now and then, something special happens.
A backpacker arrives for a single season, falls in love with the mountain, and just... doesn’t leave.
They come back the next year. Then the year after.
They move from seasonal digs into something more permanent.
They get to know the full-timers, the locals, the families who’ve been coming to Falls Creek for generations.
Slowly, quietly, they become part of the community.
These are the people who end up running departments, training new arrivals, and becoming the faces that regular visitors look forward to seeing each winter.
They started as seasonal workers and became something more - proof that the right job in the right place can change the trajectory of a life.
So next time you’re at Falls Creek, take a moment to chat with the person scanning your lift pass or making your pizza.
Ask where they’re from, what brought them to the mountain.
You might just be talking to someone who’s about to fall in love with the place - and never quite leave.